Control system



J. A. CLARKE, .ln.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9. I916 1,323,248. v Patented Dec. 2,1919.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR JohhAClar/fqd'k J. A. CLARKE, JR.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9,1916.

1,323,248. Patented Dec. 2,1919.

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ATTORNEY 1. A. CLARKE. 1R1

CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9. I916.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

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ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

JOHN A. CLARKE, JR., OF EDGEVVOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. CLARKE, J12, a citizen of the United States, and a residentot' Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems of control for electric motors and particularly to systems employed for controlling four, or a multiple of four, motors when operating electric railway vehicles.

One object of my invention is to provide a system of the above indicated character that shall smoothly accelerate the motors from series through seriesparallel to parallel-circuit relation, with a minimum number of switches and a minimum number of resistance steps, so that there shall be a uniform. division of the load among all the motors without exceeding the individual capacity of any individual motor.

Another object of myinvention is to provide. a system of control of the above indicated character that shall be provided with a number of resistors of various currentcarrying capacities, whereby a low value of resistance may be connected in. series with the motors during the transition from series to series-parallel relation and a high value of resistance may be included in the motor circuit during the transition from seriesparallel to parallel relation of the motors.

More specifically, my invention comprises a system of control having four motors connected in series-circuit relation and a num ber of resistors of various current-carrying capacities connected in series-circuit relation. A minimum number of switches may be provided for connecting the motors in series, in series-parallel and in parallel-circuit relation across a supply circuit and for conmeeting the resistors in series with the motors or in shunt with predetermined motors when the latter are connected in series, in series-parallel and in parallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system of control illustrating my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of the control circuits for governing the operation oft-he switches disclosed in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a control. chart disclosingthesequence of operation of the switches disclosed in Fig. 1; Figs. 1 to 12, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the circuits formed through the motors in Fig. 1; Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of my control system; Fig. 1% is a diagranunatic view of the control circuits for governing the operation of the switches disclosed in Fig. 18; Fig. 15 is a control chart disclosing the sequence of operation of the switch in Fig. 1-3, and Figs. 16 to 28, inclusive, are diagrammatic views of the circuits formed through the motors illustrated in Fig. 13.

The system of control disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings comprises four motors 1, 2, 3 and ii: repectively having armatures A1, A2, A3 and AA and field windings F1, F2, F3 and F at, resistors R1, R2 and R3 and switches 5' to 1 1-, inclusive, for connecting the motors and the resistors in various circuit relations across a supply circuit comprising conductors t and g.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings is disclosed a master controller MC which comprises a movable contact segment 15 which is adapt ed to be moved through positions, a, b, 0, (Z, c, f, g, it and i to engage contact fingerslG to 26, inclusive, and complete circuits from a battery B through the operating coils of the switches 5 to 14, inclusive.

The operation of the system disclosed in Figs. 1 to 12, inclusive, when the master controller MC is moved through positions (t to 2', inclusive, is as follows: Vhen the master controller is moved to position a, the con tact segment 15 engages contact fingers 16, 17 and 21 to complete circuits from the battery B through the energizing coils of the switches 5 and 9. The switches 5 and 9 are operated to connect the four motors 1 to 1, inclusive, in series-circuit relation across the supply conductors t and g, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In position Z) of the master controller, the switch 11 is operated to shunt the motors 1 and 2 by means of the resistors R1 and R2, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. T he movement of the master controller to position releases the switch 9 and operates switch 6, whereby the two motors 1 and 2 are excluded from the motor circuit and the resistor R1 is shortcircuited, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In position d of the master controller, the switch 13 is operated to place the four motors in series-parallel-circuit relation across the supply conductors z and g, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and, in position (2 of the master controller, the switches and (5 are released to exclude the tors R1 and R2 from the circuit of the series-parallel connected motors, as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The movement of the master controller to position t operates the switches and 12 to shunt the motors 2 and 3 by the resistors R2 and R3, as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. In position 9' of the master controller, the switch 11 is released to disconnect the motors and 3 from the supply circuit and to connect the motors 1 and 4 and the resistors R2 and R3 in series-parah lel-circuit relation across the supply conductors, as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings. In position 71. of the master controller, the switch 1% is operated to conncct the motors and 3 to ground, as illustrated in Fig. 1.1 of the drawings, and in position i of the master controller, the switches 6 and S are operated to connect the motors 1 to l, inclusive, in parallel-circuit relation across the supply conductors f and g, as illustrated in Fig. 12 oi? the drawings.

The control system illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings comprises motors 2'7, 28, 21) and 30, respectively having armat-ures A5, A6, A7 and A8 and field windings F5, F6. F7 and F8, resistors R1, R5, R6 and R7 and switches 31 to 40, inclusive, which are adapted to connect the motors and the re sistors in various circuit relations across a supply circuit comprising conductors f1 and g1.

The resistors R4 and R7 have a lower re sistance value than the resistors R5 and R6 so that it is possilile to connect a low ohmic resistance in the motor circuit on transition of the motors from series to series-parallel relation and to connect a high value of rcsistance in series with the motors on transition of the motors from series-parallel to parallel relation. Thus, a more uniform acceleration of the motors may be effected.

In Fig. 1% ot' the drawings is illustrated a iii-aster controller MC]. comprising a movahle contact segment 41 which adapted to he moved through positions a, to m, inclusive, toengage contact lingers 42 to 5'2, inclusive, to complete circuits from the loattery B1 through the energizing coils of the switches 31 to 40, inclusive.

The operation of the system. disclosed in Figs. 13 to 28, inclusive, when the motors are accelerated through positions a, to in, inclusive, is as follows: Vhen the master controller MCl is moved to position (7, Circuits are completed from the battery B1 through the energizing coils of the switches and The switches 33 and are operated to connect the motors 27 to 30, inclusive, in series with the resistors R 1, R5 and B6 across the supply coiuluctors 1 anal, l, as illustrated in Fig. 16 of the drawings. In position Z), which is a transition position, the switch 31 is operated and a circuit completed, as illustrated in Fig. 17, and in posi tion 0, which is the full-series operating position, the switch 33 is released and the motors are connected across the supply conductors, as illustrated in Fig. 18 of the drawings.

Vhen the master controller is moved to position d, the switches 31 and 37 are operated to complete a circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 19 of the drawings; in position c of the. master controller, the switch 35 is released to exclude the motors QT and 28 from the motor circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings; in position 7' ot' the master controller the switches and 39 are operated to connect the motors 27 to 30, inclusive, in series-parallel-circuit relation across the supply conductors, as illustrated in Fig. 21 of the drawings; in position 9 of the master controller, the switches 31 and 34. are' released to disconnect the shunt circuit around the motors 27 and 28 which includes the resistors R4 and R5, and the switch 33 is operated; and, in position /i of the master controller, which is the full series-parallel position, the switch is released to exclude all resistors from the circuit of the motors, as illustrated in Fig. 23 of the drawings.

When the master controller is moved to position 2', the switches 36 and 38 are operated to connect the resistors R5 and R6 in shunt around the motors 28 and 29, as illustrated in Fig. 24: of the drawings; in position j of the master controller, the switch 37 is released to exclude the motor 28 and 29 from the motor circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 25, of the drawings; and, in position is, the switches 31 and are operated to connect the motors 27 to 30, inclusive, in parallel-circuit relation as to eachother and in series with a portion of the resistors across the supply conductors, as illustrated in Fig. 26 of the drawings; in position 1, the switch 34: is operated and in position m, the full parallel position, the switch 32 is operated to connect the motors in parallel-circuit relation across the supply conductors, as illustrated in Figs. 27 and 28 of the drawings.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific circuit connections and arrangement and location of parts herein set forth, as many modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of control, the combination with a-supply circuit, of four motors connected across the supply circuit, a plurality of resistors having materially difi'erent resistance values, and means for effecting acceleration of said motors and embodying means for shunting three of said motors by different combinations of said resistors during the acceleration thereof.

2. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, a plurality of motors adapted to be connected thereto and a plurality of resistors, of means comprising switches and circuit connections for connecting said motors in series, in series-parallel and in parallel-circuit relation across said supply circuit and for shunting a portion of the motors by said resistors when the motors are connected in series, and in seriesparallel circuit relation across the supply circuit and for connecting said resistors in series-circuit relation with said motors when connected in parallel-circuit relation.

3. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, four motors adapted to be connected thereto and a plurality of resistors, said motors being divided into pairs, of switches and circuit connections for connecting said motors in series, in seriesparallel and in parallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit, for shunting the first pair of motors by said resistors when the motors are connected in series across the supply circuit, for shunting one motor of each of said pairs by said resistors when the motors are connected in series-parallel across the supply circuit and for connecting said resistors in series relation to said motors when connected in parallel relation.

4. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, four motors, and a plurality of resistors having materially different resistance values, of means comprising switches and circuit connections for connecting said motors in series, in series-parallel and parallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit and for shunting three of said motors by different combinations of said resistors during the transition of said motors from series through series parallel to parallel-circuit relation.

5. In a system of control, the combination with a. supply circuit, four motors permanently connected in series-circuit relation and having their field Windingsadjacently disposed and a plurality of resistors permanently connected in series-circuit relation, of a plurality of switches for connecting the terminals of each resistor to the supply circuit and for connecting the field windings and three of the armature windings of said motors to the resistor terminals.

6. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, four motors permanently connected in series-circuit relation and a plurality of resistors permanently connected in series-circuit relation, of means comprising switches and circuit connections for connecting said motors in various circuit relations across the supply circuit, certain of said switches being adapted to connect the resistor terminals to the motor terminals, whereby three of said motors may be shunted by the resistors during the acceleration of the motors.

7. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, three motors connected in series circuit relation. and three resistors connected in series-circuit relation, of switches for joining said motors to the resistors with the latter in shunt and in seriescircuit relation with the motors.

8. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, three motors connected in series-circuit relation, and three resistors connected in series-circuit relation, of two switches and circuit connections for joining each resistor terminal to the supply circuit and to a terminal of one of said motors, whereby the motors may be connected across the supply circuit with said resistors in series and in shunt therewith.

9. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, a. plurality of motors and a plurality of resistors, of means comprising switches and circuit connections for connecting said motors in series, in seriesparallel and in. parallel-circuit relation.

across the supply circuit and for connecting sald resistors 1n serles and in shunt-circuit relation with the motors when the latterare connected in series, in series-parallel and in parallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit.

10. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, four motors and aplurality of resistors, of means comprising ten switches and circuit connections for connecting said motors in series, in seriesparallel and in parallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit, and for placing said resistors in shunt with pairs of said motors when the latter are connected in series, and in series-parallel relation across the supply circuit, and for connecting said resistors in series relation to said motors when connected in parallel relation.

11. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, a plurality of motors, and a plu 'ality of resistors, of means comprising ten switches and circuit connections for connecting said motors in series, in series-parallel and in parallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit, and for placing said resistors in shunt with pairs of said motors when the latter are connected in series, and in series-parallel across the supply circuit, and for connecting said resistors in series relation to said motors when connected in parallel relation, a pair of said switches being interposed in each motor connection to the supply circuit when the motors are connected across the latter in various circuit relations.

12. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, four motors connected in series-circuit relation and having armatures and field windings, and four resistors, of four switches for connecting the resistors to the supply circuit, four switches for connecting the resistors to the motors and two switches for connecting the motors to the supply circuit.

13. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, four motors, and a plurality of resistors a portion of which have a low current-carrying capacity, of means for connecting said motors in series,

in seriesparallel, and parallel-circuit relation across the supply circuit, and means comprising said resistors of various currentcarrying capacity for inserting a low resistance in the motor circuit during transition of the motors from series to seriesparallel-circuit relation and for inserting a. high resistance in the motor circuit during the transition from series-parallel to parallel-circuit relation of the motors.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of July,

JOHN A. CLARKE, JR, 

